Time to initiation of breastfeeding and neonatal mortality and morbidity: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early breastfeeding is defined as the initiation of breastfeeding within twenty four hours of birth. While the benefits of breastfeeding have been known for decades, only recently has the role of time to initiation of breastfeeding in neonatal mortality and morbidity been assessed.

Objective

To review the evidence for early breastfeeding initiation practices and to estimate the association between timing and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

We systematically reviewed multiple databases from 1963 to 2011. Standardized abstraction tables were used and quality was assessed for each study utilizing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Three meta-analyses were conducted for mortality among babies surviving to 48 ho

SUBMITTER: Debes AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3847227 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature